Company Description Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

　　Job Description

　　The Benefits Associate directly supports the Human Resources Benefits Director. They are responsible for assisting with the administration of Uncommon’s retirement program, wellness benefits, and any ad hoc related projects required by the organization. They will serve as a retirement benefits expert when engaging with employees and school leaders. They will also be responsible for collaborating with our Workday, Payroll, and HR Systems teams as it relates to benefits data specific to Uncommon’s retirement program.

　　Employee Support

　　Responds to employee questions regarding retirement benefitsServes as a liaison between beneficiaries and participants and the plan administrator, handling or facilitating requests for contribution adjustments, refunds, and other administrative changesExplaining retirement benefit plan policies, procedures, and legal requirements to eligible employees and beneficiariesAs primary source of contact for retirement planning support to staffCommunicates and promotes employee wellness benefits. Day-to-Day Administration of Benefits

　　Ensures retirement plans (403(b), NJ and MA Pension Plans) are administered in accordance with company policies and labor law regulationsCommunicates all retirement plan benefits related changes and deductions to Payroll, Accounting, and HR Systems teamsAnswer Zendesk tickets, inquiries regarding retirement plansEnsures staff are enrolled accurately in Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS) and New Jersey Pension within the required timeframesResearches and recommends appropriate benefits plans and services based on data analysisMaintains knowledge of legal and regulatory changes, trends, and other developments affecting retirement benefitsManages the benefits newsletter including collaborating with brokers to ensure benefits newsletter is disseminated on time. Data Management

　　Manages pension enrollments and related data in the HRIS and vendor portals to ensure accuracy of data across all systemsMaintains accurate records of participants including active, deferred, retired and separated employeesCorrects data errors as reported by vendors and/or identified via auditsIdentify and resolve data issues as they ariseReview Workday retirement set up and recommend changes to ensure accurate calculations and enrollmentMonitors wellness benefits usage data Employee Training and Knowledge Sharing

　　Can explain retirement plans to employees one-on-one and in group presentation settingsDevelops and leads all network retirement education and staff engagement sessionsManages the portion of the Benefits team’s employee/knowledge management portal related to retirement benefitsDevelop wellness benefits education plan  Other

　　Contributes to, and in some cases leads, retirement-related special projects, including strategy communications and execution, and Year-End Testing.Manages relationships with outside health and welfare brokers, carriers, and consultantsMaintains knowledge of legal and regulatory changes, trends, and other developments affecting benefits Qualifications Required

　　3 - 5 years of HR experience; 3 years of direct experienceDemonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and persuasivelyExcellent organization, time management, and follow-up skills; ability to prioritize and demonstrate an appropriate sense of urgencyStrong client focus and an ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents Thrives in evolving, fast-paced, high-change organization Knowledge of benefit plan structures/requirements Outstanding judgment, sensitivity and high discretionSelf-directed and able to contribute individually and as a member of a team Strong attention to detail and ability to project manage Some knowledge of employment law in New York, New Jersey and/or MassachusettsSome knowledge of laws and regulations related to retirement benefitsProficient with Microsoft Office and Google suite of productsProficient in, or exposure to WorkdayWilling to travel to our schools throughout our six regions Experience with different retirement plans including New Jersey Pension Preferred

　　3-5 years of Retirement Specialist experienceBackground working with entrepreneurial organization Additional Information Our people are what make us uncommon. It’s important to us that our compensation practices align with our values and enhance our ability to attract and retain talent.  Our compensation philosophy is focused on equity and fairness, retaining our talented staff and valuing their expertise, and transparency and clarity.

　　Compensation for this position: The starting compensation for this role based in NYC is between $67,300 to $79,200 and generally, we expect that qualified candidates in this location will be made an offer between $67,300 and $71,300. The starting pay will depend on a variety of factors that may include but are not limited to experience, education, training, certification, and location. Because we value staff staying in their roles over time, we do not currently cap salary ranges.

　　Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students.  As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.